In the study of Samuel Pepys' diaries, penned during the waning years of the seventeenth century, one encounters a peculiar usage of the terms "Mrs" and "Miss." Contrary to the contemporary understanding, where "Mrs" denotes a state of matrimony, Pepys appears to employ "Mrs" in reference to women of a certain maturity, regardless of their marital status. "Miss," on the other hand, seems reserved for those yet to reach the full bloom of womanhood, though the exact demarcation remains somewhat nebulous.
Fast forward a century or so, and we find ourselves in the world of Jane Austen, where the application of "Miss" has undergone a subtle transformation. Here, "Miss Lastname" singles out the eldest daughter of a family, a title of respect and precedence, while "Miss Firstname Lastname" designates her younger sisters. This particular nomenclature does not seem to surface in Pepys' writings, which could either suggest an evolution in social customs or merely my own oversight.
The query at hand, then, is the historical trajectory of "Miss" and "Mrs" within the English lexicon. When did these terms acquire their contemporary meanings, and what social shifts precipitated this linguistic metamorphosis? It's a question that invites us to delve deeper into the social fabric of England, tracing the subtle currents that have shaped the language of social distinction over the centuries.